I met a beekeeper from Kakamega last weekend. He changed how I see Kenya.

Last weekend, I had the joy of speaking at the Longevity Event at Browns Farm, leading a honey and cheese tasting on apitherapy, gut health, and how bees can help us live better.

But honestly? The best part of my day wasn't my talk.

It was Stephen.

Stephen is a beekeeper from Kakamega. He showed up with live hives of stingless bees. Not one kind, but Five. Here's what I learned from him:

Kakamega Forest is a hidden treasure. According to ICIPE research, it holds 18 out of Kenya's 23 stingless bee species. Eighteen!

We saw:

• Ground-nesting species (likely Meliponula lendliana) – lives in clay pots, underground. You cannot keep this bee in a city.

• Meliponula ferruginea – the red and black ones.

• Hypotrigona gribodoi – so tiny you'd almost miss them.

• Meliponula togoensis and

• Meliponula bocandei – each with its own quiet magic.

We saw queen cells. Honey cells. Bees are no bigger than fruit flies.

And during the event, one guest asked me: "If crystallised honey was fake?"

My heart broke a little. Then I smiled. I explained that crystallisation is a sign of raw, real honey. It's good. It's medicine.

I also shared my own story, how honey-onion syrup took my child off medication. Simple. Ancient. And it worked miracles.

And if you'd like to learn more about apitherapy, longevity, and how to really know bees (not just keep them), I've started a WhatsApp community in Kenya.

Join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/D44BIt2vqiv4FIBifJ7CNx

We share event updates, honey tips, and stories from the hive. No spam. Just bees and the people who love them.

Thank you to Browns Farm, Grove & Meadow for hosting.

And thank you, Stephen. Thank you, Bees!

🐝 Most beekeepers teach you to keep bees. Not to know them.

#Apitherapy #StinglessBees #Kakamega #Kenya #Longevity #BrownsFarm #WhatsAppCommunity